Four seniors have advanced to the finalist standing of the National Merit Scholarship Program. This is the highest number in Highland High School history.

The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) – a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.6 million entrants each year – and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.

Kelly Meaden, Alaina Monroe, Braden Webb and Christopher Wright are now among 15,000 students nationwide who have advanced to the elite “finalist” level. All winners of Merit Scholarship awards (Merit Scholar designees) are chosen from the finalist group based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments – without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin or religious preference.

A variety of information is available for NMSC selectors to evaluate: the finalist’s academic record, information about the school’s curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, the high school official’s written recommendation, information about the student’s activities and leadership and the finalist’s own essay.

Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, NMSC notifies approximately 7,500 finalists that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award. Merit Scholarship awards are of three types: National Merit $2500 Scholarships, corporate-sponsored merit scholarship awards or college-sponsored merit scholarship awards. Merit scholarship awards are supported by some 420 independent sponsors and by NMSC’s own funds. Sponsor organizations include corporations and businesses, company foundations, professional associations and colleges and universities.